Radiographic film identification device

ABSTRACT

An X-ray film identification device in which one unexposed edge of an X-ray film is placed adjacent a radiation transparent window in which is displayed a set of identifying characters. The identifying characters are located on slidable strips which are guided individually from a remote location into registering position with the window. One end of each of the individual strips is attached to a separate wheel which is rotated to bring various indicia on the strips into registering location with the window.

United States Patent Inventor William D. Lovison 4902 Willmonte Ave., Temple City, Calif. 91780 Appl. No. 843,082

Filed July 18, 1969 Patented Aug. 17, 1971 RADIOGRAPHIC FILM IDENTIFICATION DEVICE 5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 250/67, 40/65 lnt.Cl ..G03b41/l6 Field of Search 250/67; 40/65 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS lO/l958 Parishm, 2.50/67 2,975,282 3/1961 Schaffer 250/67 X 3,139,854 7/1964 Hedges et al. 40/65 X 3,456,111 7/1969 Barnes et a]. 250/67 Primary Examiner-James W. Lawrence Assistant Examiner-A. L. Birch Attorney-Beehler and Arant ABSTRACTi An X-ray film identification device in which one unexposed edge of an X-ray film is placed adjacent a radiation transparent window in which is displayed a set of identifying characters. The identifying characters are located on slidable strips which are guided individually from a remote location into registering position with the window. One end of each of the individual strips is attached to a separate wheel which is rotated to bring various indicia 0n the strips into registering location with the window.

PATENTED mm mm SHEET 2 OF 4 PATENTEUAUBIHQYI 3.600 577 sum 3 or 4 HUM.

JVVENTOQ. 77/14/4114 D. I a v/ra/v' RADIOGRAPIIIC FILM IDENTIFICATION DEVICE This invention relates to the marking of identifying characters on a radiation sensitive film. The identifying characters are assembled into the desired relationship, and the image of these identifying characteristics is recorded on the previously unexposed film at the desired location.

Previously, considerable difficulty had been experienced in providing convenient, reliable devices for placing identifying characters on films, and particularly on X-ray films. These and other difficulties of the prior art have been overcome, according to the present invention.

The present invention provides a device which includes a pluralityof indicia bearing strips arranged in parallel planer adjacent relationship so that the characters on the various strips may be assembled together into a predetermined desired combination by sliding the strips axially. The individual strips are moved independently of one another until the desired character from each strip is positioned at the desired location relative to the desired characters on the other strips. The strips are slidably received in a shielded housing for movement past an unshielded window in that housing. The window extends laterally of the strips so that one character on each of the strips may be positioned so as to be exposed in an unshielded position adjacent the window.

Provision is made for positioning an unexposed portion of a radiation sensitive film adjacent the window in which the characters on the strip are positioned.

A suitable source of radiation is then projected through the window onto the film, thus causing the image of the characters on the strips to be recorded in the order in which they are displayed in the window on the film.

The filmstrips are conveniently attached at one end to individual rotatably mounted wheels. The rotation of the wheels cause the individual strips to move slidably past the window. A detent device is provided in operative association with each of the wheels so that the wheel is releasably retained in the desired predetennined position. A second set of indicia is provided on each strip, the characters of which are arranged in substantially the same relationship as those in that set of indicia which is adapted to be displayed on the unshielded window. The second set of indicia will display, at a location remote from the window, a character which is substantially the same as that character positioned in the unshielded window. It is thus possible to check the identifying characters displayed in the window without actually looking at the window. Conveniently, a time indicating device is also provided adjacent the window so that an appropriate indication of time is recorded on the film contemporaneously with the recording of the identifying characters.

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated:

FIG. 1, a top plan view of a film identification device according to this invention;

FIG. 2, a front elevational view taken along line 2-2 in FIG.

FIG. 3, a bottom plan view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5, a plan view of an indicia bearing strip adapted for use according to this invention;

FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7, a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8, a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9, a plan view of a film which has been marked with identifying characters according to this invention; and

FIG. 10, an exploded view of a drum element. having separate rotatable wheels according to this invention.

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a film identification device indicated generally at 10. Film identification device 10 includes a housing 12 which is provided with a cover plate 14 which serves as a strip guide and shield, film support table, and structural unit to which is mounted guide 16. Guide 16 is spaced from cover plate 14 so as to provide a passageway therebetween. A window 18 extends laterally in cover plate 14 and guide 16.

A drum member indicated generally at 20 includes a shaft 22 (see particularly FIG. 10). Bushings 24 are joumaled on shaft 22, and wheels 26 are rotatably mounted on bushings 24. Wheels 26 are provided with scalloped peripheries 28 which serve as indexing stops. Pins 30 project radially outwardly from the outer periphery of wheels 26 and are adapted to contact various fixed elements so as to limit the angular rotation of wheels 26,. Sleeve bearings 32 are nonrotatably mounted in the central axial opening of wheels 26 and are adapted to rotate relative to bushings 24 on which they are rotatably mounted. Spacers 34 are provided in drum member 20 to set various groupings of wheels apart from one another. The spacers 34 are not rotatable. The bushings 24 extend between two spacers 34 axially around shaft 22. A plurality of wheels 26 are mounted on a single bushing 24 so as to be rotatable in a unit or independently of one another. End plates 39 are provided at either axial end of drum member 20 for the purpose of providing a convenient attachment point to housing 12. A guard 36 extends around the exposed periphery of drum member 20 to protect it from injury and to confine and guide flexible indicia strips 40. An indicia display port 38 is provided in guard 36 adjacent one lateral edge of cover plate 14 remote from window 18 to permit viewing of the characters on flexible indicia strips 40.

The characters on indicia strip 40, FIGS. 1 and 5, are arranged in two sets. The first set of characters 42 is adapted to be positioned adjacent window 18, and the second set of characters 44 is adapted to be positioned adjacent the indicia display port 38. The characters are arranged in substantially the same relationship and sequence in each of the first and second sets of characters, 42 and 44 respectively, so that when a preselected character is positioned adjacent window 18 in the first set of characters 42, a second substantially identical character from the second set of characters 44 is displayed adjacent indicia display port 38. A strip retainer 46 is passed through that end of the flexible indicia strips 40 which is adjacent the second set of characters 44 and is secured to the outer periphery of wheels 26, see FIGS. 6 and 8.

The flexible indicia strips 40 extend from the point where they are attached to wheels 26 around drum member 20 and into the space between cover plate 14 and guide 16. The flexible indicia strips 40 are guided through this space between cover plate 14 and guide 16 by means of guide pins. A first set of strip guide pins 48 receives the flexible indicia strips 40 as they enter this space. A second set of strip guide pins 50 receives the flexible indicia strips 40 as they are about to pass adjacent to window 18, and a third set of strip guide pins 52 receives theflexible indicia strips 40 after they have passed adjacent to window 18. These three sets of strip guide pins, acting in cooperation with spacers 34, serve to locate and accurately space the flexible indicia strips so that the characters are displayed in window 18 in the desired predetermined lateral relationship to one another.

A spring detent indicated generally at 54 is provided in operative association with drum member 20 so as to accurately position the wheels 26 at those locations which will properly align the characters in the first set of characters 42 with window 18. Spring detent 54 includes a wheel follower 56 which is adapted to coact with the scallops of scalloped periphery 28. Followers 56 are mounted on spring arms 58. Spring arms 58 are rigidly attached to spring mounting bars 60 so that they act to drive followers 56 into contact with scalloped periphery 28 on wheels 26.

Pins 30 on the periphery of wheels 26 limit the angular rotation of wheels 26 by contacting at one extreme, extended limit stop 62, and at the other extreme, retracted limit stop 64. Extended limit stop 62 prevents the wheels 26 from being rotated from the point where the first set of characters 42 are all extended past window 18 so far that the outer end of strip 40 extends out of the window end of the passageway defined between cover plate 14 and guide 16. The retracted limit stop 64 prevents wheels 26 from being rotated so far that the flexible indicia strips 40 are withdrawn to a point where their outer ends are slidably moved to the drum side of the third set of strip guide pins 52.

A clock 66 is provided at a location adjacent window 18 with a shaft 68 extending through housing 12. A cylinder 70 is positioned adjacent window 18 so that the time indicating characters 72 on the periphery of cylinder 70 are rotated past and in registering relationship with window 18. Film 74 is contained in a film cassette or other holder, not shown. Film 74 is provided with an unexposed portion 80 along one edge thereof. The unexposed portion 80 is positioned by means of film guide 78 over window 18, and a suitable radiation source below window 18, not shown, is activated to cause an image of the characters displayed in window 18 to be recorded as a set of identifying indicia 76 on film 74. The remainder of film 74 is protected from exposure by means of radiation shield 75. Radiation shield 75 is conveniently a sheet of lead which covers at least the top of cover 14 and preferably an area coextensive with or slightly larger than the film 74. An opening corresponding to window 18 is provided in shield 75.

The characters on the flexible indicia strips 40 and the cylinder 70 are imprinted thereon with a material of such a nature that it will produce an image on the film when radiation from a suitable source is passed through the window 18. Where the radiation source produces X-rays, the characters are conveniently outlined with a barium, silver, bismuth, or lead containing paint so that they are substantially opaque to X-rays.

In operation the wheels 26 are rotated, generally by means of applying frictional force to the indicia bearing strips in indicia display port 38, until the desired characters are arranged in the desired relationship in indicia display port 38. Substantially the same characters will be displayed in the same relationship in window 18. The film, contained in a suitable film holder, is then positioned over window 18, and the radiation source is activated. The image of the characters displayed adjacent window 18 appears on the film. The guide 16 and also cover plate 14 may, if desired, be composed of a material which is opaque to the radiation which is projected through window 18. This aids in preventing the radiation source from exposing any part of the film besides the unexposed portion 80 onto which identifying indicia 76 are projected.

The film identification device of this invention is conveniently mounted beneath a portable or stationary leadcovered worktable top with the window 18 exposed through the top. The L-shaped film guide 78 is preferably positioned on the worktable top so that it receives a film cassette or other film holder and orients unexposed portion 80 over window 18. Conveniently, microswitches 81 and 83 may be provided at the remote inwardly facing ends of the film guide 78, adjacent cylinder 70 and strip guide pins 50, which actuate the radiation source as soon as they are all tripped by pressing a film cassette against them. The display port 38 is positioned so that it is accessible to the operator.

Flexible indicia strips 40 are conveniently composed of a synthetic organic polymer material; such as, for example, nylon, polyethylene and the like.

What has been described are preferred embodiments in which modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. A film identification device comprising:

a housing member;

an X-ray radiation shield member adjacent said housing member;

an unshielded window means in said housing and said shield member;

a flexible strip path means extending in said housing member and intersecting said window means;

a plurality of independently rotatable wheel elements mounted on said housing member at an accessible location remote from said window means;

a plurality of flexible indicia bearing strip means slidably received in said path means and adapted to extend past said window means, individual strip means being independently slidably movable responsive to the rotation of a wheel element to position preselected indicia bearing portions of said strip means ad acent said window means,

each of said flexible indicia bearing strip means including two sets of indicia characters, said indicia characters being substantially opaque to X-ray radiation, each of said sets including substantially the same indicia characters, whereby a character from one set of indicia is positioned adjacent the window means and substantially the same character from the second set of indicia is displayed at an accessible location remove from said window means; and

means for projecting radiation through said window means and onto an X-ray radiation sensitive film whereby an image of the indicia characters adjacent said window means is recorded on said film.

2. A film identification device of claim 1 wherein one end of each of the flexible indicia bearing strip means is attached to a location on the periphery of a wheel element for movement with the periphery of said wheel element.

3. A film identification device of claim 1 including means for providing time indicating indicia adjacent said window means for recording on said film.

4. A film identification device of claim 1 including switch means adjacent said window means for actuating said means for projecting radiation responsive to the presence of an X-ray film holder in a predetermined position adjacent said window means.

5. A film identification device of claim 1 wherein the wheel elements are assembled together into a cylinder mounted on the housing member at a location remote from the window means, the rotation of the individual wheel elements being limited by stop means to an arc of less than about 360, detent means operatively associated with said wheel elements to releasably hold independently selected wheel elements at predetermined locations along said arcs, a guard member adjaeent the cylindrical surface of said cylinder to confine and guide said flexible indicia bearing strip means on the periphery of said wheel elements, and means for providing access to said individual wheel elements to permit an operator to independently rotate said wheel elements. 

1. A film identification device comprising: a housing member; an X-ray radiation shield member adjacent said housing member; an unshielded window means in said housing and said shield member; a flexible strip path means extending in said housing member and intersecting said window means; a plurality of independently rotatable wheel elements mounted on said housing member at an accessible location remote from said window means; a plurality of flexible indicia bearing strip means slidably received in said path means and adapted to extend past said window means, individual strip means being independently slidably movable responsive to the rotation of a wheel element to position preselected indicia bearing portions of said strip means adjacent said window means, each of said flexible indicia bearing strip means including two sets of indicia characters, said indicia characters being substantially opaque to X-ray radiation, each of said sets including substantially the same indicia characters, whereby a character from one set of indicia is positioned adjacent the window means and substantially the same character from the second set of indicia is displayed at an accessible location remove from said window means; and means for projecting radiation through said window means and onto an X-ray radiation sensitive film whereby an image of the indicia characters adjacent said window means is recorded on said film.
 2. A film identification device of claim 1 wherein one end of each of the flexible indicia bearing strip means is attached to a location on the periphery of a wheel element for movement with the periphery of said wheel element.
 3. A film identification device of claim 1 including means for providing time indicating indicia adjacent said window means for recording on said film.
 4. A film identification device of claim 1 including switch means adjacent said window means for actuating said means for projecting radiation responsive to the presence of an X-ray film holder in a predetermined position adjacent said window means.
 5. A film identification device of claim 1 wherein the wheel elements are assembled together into a cylinder mounted on the housing member at a location remote from the window means, the rotation of the individual wheel elements being limited by stop means to an arc of less than about 360*, detent means operatively associated with said wheel elements to releasably hold independently selected wheel elements at predetermined locations along said arcs, a guard member adjacent the cylindrical surface of said cylinder to confine and guide said flexible indicia bearing strip means on the periphery of said wheel elements, and means for providing access to said individual wheel elements to permit an operator to independently rotate said wheel elements. 